Recommended Beijing Winter Tour

China Ethnic Group

IntrodutionChina
is a united multi-ethnic nation of 56 ethnic groups. As the majority
(91.6 percent) of the population is of the Han ethnic group, China's
other 55 ethnic groups are customarily referred to as ethnic minorities.
According to the fifth national census in 2000, 18 ethnic minorities
have a population of over one million, namely the Zhuang, Manchu, Hui,
Miao, Uygur, Yi, Tujia, Mongolian, Tibetan, Bouyei, Dong, Yao, Korean,
Bai, Hani, Li, Kazak and Dai. Of these the Zhuang ethnic group has the
biggest population, numbering 16.179 million. There are 17 ethnic groups
with a population of between 100,000 and one million, namely the She,
Lisu, Gelao, Lahu, Dongxiang, Va, Sui, Naxi, Qiang, Tu, Xibe, Mulam,
Kirgiz, Daur, Jingpo, Salar and Maonan. There are 20 ethnic groups with a
population of between 10,000 and 100,000, namely, Blang, Tajik, Primi,
Achang, Nu, Ewenki, Gin, Jino, Deang, Ozbek, Russian, Bonan, Monba,
Oroqen, Derung, Tatar, Hezhen, Gaoshan (excluding the Gaoshan ethnic
group in Taiwan) and Lhoba. The Lhoba ethnic group, at 2,965, has the
smallest population.

The Han people
can be found throughout the country, mainly on the middle and lower
reaches of the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Pearl River
valleys, and the Northeast Plain. The 55 ethnic minorities, though fewer
in number, are also scattered over vast areas and can be found in
approximately 64.3 percent of China, mainly distributed in the border
areas of northeast, north, northwest and southwest China. Yunnan
Province, home to more than 20 ethnic groups, has the greatest diversity
of ethnic groups in China. Over China's long history, repeated
instances of ethnic group migrations, opening up new land for
cultivation, emigration, relocation of the ruling dynasty, and a host of
other reasons, gave rise to the situation of "living together over vast
areas while some living in compact communities in small areas." This
continues to provide the practical basis for political, economic and
cultural intercourse between the Han and the various minority peoples,
and for the functioning of the regional ethnic autonomy system.

Distribution Characteristic of China Ethnic GroupsDue
to the communication between Chinese various nationalities and the
movement of population mutually, it forms a basic distribution
characteristic of China Ethnic Groups: two or more nationalities living
together in a large area but one nationality inhabiting a region.The Han
people live almost every region in China no matter from east to west or
south to north but primarily in the east and southeast while ethnic
minorities in China, mostly concentrated along the silk road, in the
north, northeast, south, and southwest but with some in central interior
areas.

According
to the census statistics on November 20, 1990, Yunnan owned the most
ethnic groups in China that 25 minority nationalities live there and
population of each nationality is over 5000 people, such as Yi, Zhuang,
Hui, Tibetan, Miao, Buyei,Mongol, Sui, Manchu and Yao, etc. The most
important thing is that 15 minority ethnic groups among 25 only live in
Yunnan: Bai, Hani, Dai, Lisu,Va, Lahu, Achang, Nakhi, Jingpo, Blang,
Pumi, Nu, Jino, Deang and Derung. In other words, if you want to know
the customs about these minority ethnic groups, you must go to Yunnan.

Ethnic groups in Yunnan

ZhuangThe
Zhuang are one of China's most populous ethnic groups, with a large
majority living in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China.
The Zhuang people have their own language, but most of them can speak
Chinese dialects.

Historically,
the Zhuang have supported the Communist rule and have had close ties
with the Han for centuries. Zhuang clothing is generally similar to that
of the Han.

HuiThe
Hui are concentrated in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest
China; they are also spread out across Xinjiang. Like the Uighurs, the
Hui practice Islam and are descendents of the Turks. However, they have
not retained a Turkish dialect and instead mainly speak Mandarin
Chinese. As a result of sharing a language, the Hui and the Han have
also come to share many customs, including a very similar dress.

YaoMost
Yao live in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with the
rest scattered among mountain communities. The Yao consist of several
smaller ethnic subgroups, which is why until the founding of the
People's Republic in 1949, the ethnic group had several names including
Panyao, Shanziyao, Guoshanyao, Pindiyao and Baikuyao. Following the
revolution, however, the name "Yao" was officially adopted after the
group's language that belongs to the Yao branch of Chinese-Tibet.
However, the Yao do not have their own written language and therefore
have come to use Chinese characters. This in turn has caused the Yao to
become familiar with the Han and their customs.

UighursSometimes
called China's "other Tibet," the Uighur ethnic minority has a long
history in Xinjiang Province, in the northwest region of the country.
Like Tibetans, they are a non-Han indigenous group that has claimed
autonomy from Beijing since coming under Communist rule in 1949. Distant
relatives of the Turks, most Uighurs practice Islam and account for
more than half of all Muslims in China. The group has their own language
which belongs to the Turkic group of the Altaic branch, while their
written language is based on Arabic characters. Uighurs generally live
in more rural areas, dominating the agricultural river valleys of the
West, growing mainly wheat, maize, paddy rice and cotton. Uighur means
"unity" or "alliance."